December 21 - Your Redemption Payment

Reading

1 Pet. 1:1-5:14

Devotional

The apostle Peter wrote two letters which are included in the New Testament. Peter is believed to have died in 64 A.D., which would mean that his two letters were written sometime before then. Peter was familiar with Paul's writings and Peter's first letter is addressed to GOD's elect scattered throughout the regions of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia—the regions where Paul had preached Jesus and begun congregations.

The primary focus of 1 Peter is to encourage the brethren who were enduring suffering as a result of their faith. Peter reminds them of the price which was paid in order to buy them back from slavery to sin, and this will be the focus of today's devotional. Peter writes:

13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

And this is the word that was preached to you.(1 Pet. 1:13-25 NIV)

We need to think really seriously about what it cost Jesus to buy our individual life back from slavery to sin. We need to live in such a way that it demonstrates our appreciation to GOD for what He did for us and what it cost Him. And remember, as Peter points out, entire nations are like grass which withers in a season. If that be true, our life is certainly but for a moment and then it is gone. This is hard to remember when we're really young, because time seems to pass so slowly. As you age, however, it seems that time speeds up and years pass by that feel like but a few minutes. Therefore, live each moment like you're ready to die because, life is short and unstable.